How do you get readers to post comments on your articles?

1. 0

   marcuscaineposted 6 years ago

   I have been writing for Hubages for over a year and I am still trying to figure out how to get my readers to comment on my articles. Is this something hubbers should even worry about?

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2. 75

   NessMovieReviewsposted 6 years ago

   Personally, I have been here about the same amount of time and mostly the comments are from fellow hubbers from what I have seen. Networking with each other and welcoming new comers. I participated in this previously but as I now target my traffic from external sources, my comments are where I post links to the articles. As visitors to the hub, there must be some sort of log-in process involved that is unappealing for non-writers for this platform. On occasion I receive 'visitor' comments but they are usually what I consider unhelpful or spam-like.
   I get good traffic now-days and am unconcerned with comments on this platform. That's just me though.

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3. 93

   Rochelle Frankposted 6 years ago

   What NessMovie said is correct, and most comments do come from other writers here.
   I'd say - no, don't worry about it, but everyone likes to get comments, especially if they add something to your subject, or at least indicate that someone actually read it.
   
   I think the best way to get comments is to comment on other people's hubs.
   
   No one is obligated to return the favor, but some do. Some never do (and that's ok, too - we all have our own real lives). Some always do, and somehow find the time. Many sometimes do.
   
   Post questions or comments in the forums. Most important, of course, is to keep writing hubs.
   I would also suggest that you add a profile picture -- doen't have to be your portrait, but something that shows you are 'here'.

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4. 73

   Miebakagh57posted 6 years ago

   This is a very good advise. If some one comments on my piece, I comments back, however trival.

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   1. 89

      Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I notice I get some comments in the "comments" section on my account page. But some are actually on the bottom of the hub listed before it. It's not consistent.
      
      But the comments from HP readers don't make money for you anyway. Not that we don't like to hear from others we like here. Comments from those who find you from Google are what you need.
      
      I get a lot of spam from non members who do log in, but usually to get a free astrology reading or to insult me. I always gave "mini" readings that I could do fast and off the top of my head to establish credibility. But that led some to expect to be able to cut and paste huge lists of signs planets are in from sites, and think I can interpret that for them.
      
      I can to some extent, but it's a very small interpretation. When I tell them I can't, they call me a "fake" or worse insults. But they wouldn't spend hours interpreting and drawing up a horoscope for free. I have a paying clientele at my own blog, where they could find answers if they weren't too lazy to go there. But they all want something for nothing. I spent a lot of money over the years buying textbooks, going to classes and workshops, and on independent study. So it's hard, if I ignore them I can lose business, but I can't waste my time either. I do get referrals from here, but my clients mostly come from Google where they seem to like me.

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5. 96

   aesta1posted 6 years ago

   Marcus, the best way to get people to comment on your article is to write on topics that people like to comment on. The other, leave comments in the articles of the other writers. I don't think you need to worry too much but it makes you feel good when someone bothers.

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6. 99

   DrMark1961posted 6 years ago

   You only have six hubs and you do not have many page views. I have thousands of comments, but usually only get one or two for each ten thousand views.
   If you would like to hear from your readers, you need more of them. Write more articles and write on subjects that are meant to help people.
   (For example you could write more articles about that game and tell people how they can win/score more/get to the next level, you could write about how to get involved with your church and why it is a good idea, you could write about how to use quantum computing to work faster, etc. You get the picture.)
   Some comments are great and do help you write better and new articles, so you should encourage them.
   I rarely get comments from other hubbers, but I did at first when I went to their hubs and left comments. Some of them came to my articles and left comments too.

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   1. 89

      Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Although it's nice to get comments where people ask for advice, it can become a monster, like it has for me. I don't have hours to read people's problems and give them free advice, when I run a business from home that was P/T, and now is F/T.
      
      Some of them are just needy, and some want something that's time consuming for free. I only answer the polite ones, but take a few hours each week to do it.

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      1. 99

         DrMark1961posted 6 years agoin reply to this

         I feel differently about it since the people that write me are usually worried about a family member, their dog, and I am glad to spend a few minutes of my spare time answering them. I do not have any services I could sell on the interenet anyway, and I sure do not expect people to bring their dogs down here for me to look at!

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7. 96

   eugbugposted 6 years ago

   I get lots of comments, but mostly on troubleshooting hubs when readers are looking for help.  It would be nice if we got bonus earnings for every happy customer who has had their problems solved! Over on Fixya.com, I used to get paid about 10$ for every solution!

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8. 94

   Thelma Albertsposted 6 years ago

   The best way for me is to comment on fellow hubbers hub. When I received a comment, I visited the hubs of the commenter and read a hub or more before commenting.

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9. 75

   NessMovieReviewsposted 6 years ago

   I do need to clarify though that although ‘unconcerned’ I really did appreciate the lovely conversations I had in comments as a newcomer and still drop into their pages every now and again. There are a couple of people who just make it their business to be nice to others.

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10. 94

    Titiaposted 6 years ago

    Personally I never comment on on articles of sites where I have to sign up first in order to leave a comment or a question, so I can truly understand why others don't either. Reason is that I don't want to have an account on numerous sites where I probably will never return to.

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11. 85

    mattforteposted 6 years ago

    I delete most comments.
    
    And most comments that I don't delete, I ignore. ;-)
    
    Unless the comment really has something of value to add to the topic, it's not worth the effort nor the words taken up on the page.

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12. 0

    threekeysposted 6 years ago

    I am happy for you that you not only have created self employment for yourself. Flourishing your business from part time to full time.
    You cant have a business without people. I think it would be reasonable to say you have felt needy at sometime during your lifetime. I kinda went "ouch" when you rubbished those "needy people". Everyone has needs to be fufilled and they are reaching out-rightly or wrongly. You keep dishing people, you may find you have no clients. Just a thought.

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    1. 86

       theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       I have those 'needy' comments and requests too. Usually on my own site. People think it's okay to demand you give your services for free, even though I offer a free version of what I do, it's not enough for some. When I gently point out that they can engage my professional services, they either disappear or, as in one recent case, become abusive.
       
       I only ever approve and respond to comments that are connected to the topic of the article. If they are the superficial, 'good article' type, I delete them.

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    2. 89

       Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Well, I've been doing this for over 40 years, so don't think too many people are feeling "dissed", except sometimes me!
       
       I try to explain it nicely too, and the person often gets abusive, so now I am a lot more careful who I take on. It takes me about 10-12 hours to cast and interpret an astrology chart, and I have carpal tunnel in both hands from all the typing. I don't do computer interpretations, it's me. There is a difference between helping a needy person and having crazy and rude people taking advantage of you. Like everyone, I have a life and my own problems too.
       
       I am also a life coach and never turn down a serious question, and I won't charge. But rude people who just go to a mediocre astrology site, copy and paste all kinds of info that isn't what I need, and expect me to turn that into an interpretation and free advice, are just wanting something for nothing. They can pay that site to do a computer interpretation for them.
       
       Then they are shocked that I charge a fee. I have plenty of return clients and don't need people who are rude, cheap and lazy. I do spend a few hours a week on my comments section and answer what I can with the limited info I get (I have a site that tells exactly what I need, but they are too lazy to go there).
       
       I had to buy many expensive astrology books, take workshops, classes, and do a lot of independent study to get where I am. I had to write hundreds of articles to teach people about astrology to prove my expertise. That's only on this site and the niches. I also wrote on Wizzley, Infobarrel, and had two blogs of my own, before I just keep a small one with info on astrology and the tarot, and what I need to do a reading. I even wrote one that teaches them how to cast a horoscope themselves. I am only one person. Most think it's an art you can pick up in a few hours. It's not. There are only 24 hours in a day.
       
       And I do get stories that break my heart. I never turn anyone like that away, but usually astrology is not the answer. I do try to provide other resources for them. I do care, but not for those who have no sense of common decency when they ask.

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13. 0

    threekeysposted 6 years ago

    I now understand.
    You highlighted for me about "assumptions-making an ASS out of U and ME."
    Take care Jean.
    And there only 24 hours in one day.

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    1. 89

       Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for understanding threekeys,
       
       The first post I made may have sounded pissy, but I care deeply about my clients. I keep in touch with many of them. It's just a fine line to walk.
       
       I make mistakes about people too. And when I'm advising troubled ones, who are true believers, I have to be really careful. Any reader does, and we have several really good ones of both astrology and tarot here on HP and Exemplore. Take care. If you have any questions, I'll watch for you in my comments section . I can answer easy stuff there.

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14. 82

    Charu Bhatnagarposted 6 years ago

    I struggle with the same problem. I did notice most of the comments do come from fellow-hubbers. Yet, I was discouraged due to this problem. Especially when I neither have earnings (my Google ad account isn't activated and I do not know why) neither views. It is easier to tell to write articles which interest people. But I came here to write what I love; stories and poems. I always reach the conclusion something is wrong with my approach, including commenting less on others' articles.

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    1. 89

       Jean Bakulaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Did you activate the Google A/C and get an A/C number? Sometimes they make you write about 10 articles before they approve you, but I see you have more than that.. I don't recall how I activated mine, it was long ago.
       
       Most of us make more money with the HP Ad Program, but you need the Google account. Why don't you ask the experts on the technical forum? Good luck.

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